In a major maritime enforcement operation, the United States has successfully seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker with links to Venezuela. The action followed a pursuit lasting more than two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean, according to U.S. officials.
Trans-Atlantic Pursuit and Evasion Attempts
The vessel, originally named the Bella 1 and later renamed the Marinera, was targeted under a federal court warrant. U.S. authorities allege the ship was involved in transporting oil in direct violation of American sanctions. The tanker had been actively trying to evade a U.S. blockade designed to stop sanction-evading shipments connected to Venezuela.
An initial attempt to seize the ship near Venezuelan waters was unsuccessful, prompting a prolonged chase. U.S. forces, including the Coast Guard and military units, tracked the Marinera for over two weeks. In a bold move to avoid capture, the crew reportedly painted a Russian flag on the hull and re-registered the vessel under Russian authority, hoping to claim diplomatic protection.
The Interception and "Stateless" Designation
Despite the vessel's new Russian markings, U.S. officials continued to treat the tanker as "stateless" and therefore subject to seizure. The dramatic operation unfolded in the North Atlantic. U.S. surveillance aircraft monitored the Marinera as it passed between Ireland and Iceland before forces finally moved in to board and intercept it under the federal seizure order.
Part of a Broader Crackdown on "Shadow Fleet"
This seizure is not an isolated incident. The tanker had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury since 2024 for its role within a so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels used to transport crude oil linked to sanctioned activities. Its capture represents a significant step in broader U.S. efforts to disrupt complex sanction-evasion strategies involving Venezuelan oil, signaling Washington's continued commitment to enforcing its economic penalties.
